As I write this, your identity may be at risk.
Last week our local phone company called to notify me that my husband had requested all calls to be routed to his cell phone number (commonly known as call forwarding.) He had provided the last four digits of his social security number, all this phone company requires to verify identity.
The problem was simply that my husband did not initiate that call, nor was the cell phone number his. In fact, it was a T-Mobile number registered in another state that call forwarded to the Netherlands.
Here’s what the fraudster would have done next if I had been unable to block the call forwarding.
He would have attempted to access our bank account to request a wire transfer. When the bank called back to verify the transaction, the call would have been answered by the fraudster, and the transfer would have been completed.
Case closed.
How can you prevent this from happening to you?
Call your phone company and either cancel your call forwarding feature or place an additional security code on your account access.
Please pass this info along. Take a role in halting identity theft.
Barbara Kimmel, Executive Director
Trust Across America-Trust Around the World
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